A Meeting in Southshore

Hillsbrad bordered Alterac and the Arathi Highlands, a land of rolling green hills and fertile pastures. Abundant rainfall had created much arable land, while nature's generosity allowed Hillsbrad to be self-sufficient. The southern coast enjoyed gentle winds, allowing ships to sail smoothly in and out of Southshore's docks.

Seven years later, Southshore.

It was only a small town, yet it was Hillsbrad's largest human settlement and its commercial center. Unlike other places, Southshore had an armed militia dedicated to fending off bandits and protecting fishing boats setting out to sea. Merchants, travelers, bards, and officers of every rank from Lordaeron came here, making Southshore a place where all sorts mixed together.

Inside a small tavern, shouts rose one after another. A group of people surrounded a child and a middle-aged man playing cards. The boy had well-proportioned features and a head of curly brown hair.

"Ha, I'm going to win."

"Seven rounds? That's impossible."

"If you don't believe me, have someone search me. I didn't cheat."

"You sly little brat!" the middle-aged man roared, successfully drawing the attention of a young man outside the tavern.

He moved through the crowded patrons as quietly as possible, then came up behind the boy. Everyone noticed him.

Sensing a chill, the boy slowly turned around.

"C-Cousin." The boy forced out an awkward smile. Just as he was about to run, the young man he called cousin reached out and grabbed him.

"Trying to run?"

"I'm not. I just need to use the bathroom. Let go of me, Nathanos." The boy struggled, but could not break free from the young man's grip.

"If your excuses were as refined as your card skills, perhaps I'd consider letting you go," Nathanos said, drawing a burst of laughter from those around them.

The boy was Stephan Maris, Nathanos's cousin and a complete little troublemaker. Stephan's face flushed red at those words. Nathanos glared at him, then smiled.

"I apologize for the trouble my cousin has caused you." Nathanos bowed to the surrounding people, then dragged the deeply unwilling Stephan out of the tavern.

This year, Nathanos had turned seventeen. His appearance differed from that of most people; his Eastern features made him look somewhat unusual. He kept his black hair short and had no idea why he looked this way. Perhaps it was because of the dreams. He was neither burly nor particularly strong-looking, but only those who knew him understood how exquisite his skills were. Anyone who had seen them would never believe Nathanos and Stephan were brothers, because their personalities were completely different.

"Enough, enough! Let go of me already!" Stephan finally pulled free from Nathanos's hand with all his strength.

"Why did you suddenly show up? I was just about to win those seven copper coins from that guy. That's the price of a chicken."

"Could you focus on something more worthwhile? If Uncle Jonathan finds out you were gambling in a tavern, your backside will be blooming in the next second."

Stephan smiled as he looked at his cousin. He knew Nathanos's strictness toward him had never been genuine.

"I trust you won't tell him."

Nathanos sighed. "Stephan, I promised Uncle Jonathan I'd look after you, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you please. Listen carefully, from now on you must..."

Before he could finish, an excited shout interrupted him. "Nathanos!"

After hearing that voice, Stephan gave Nathanos a smug, inexplicable smile. It angered Nathanos; Stephan was telling him that his rescuer had arrived.

The one calling him was a young man about Nathanos's age. The difference was that he wore a white robe. He was Nathanos's companion, Larein, who had just become an Initiate Priest. He had invited Nathanos and Stephan to Southshore mainly to celebrate his baptism in the Holy Light.

"You arrived right on time."

"Greetings, Brother Larein," Stephan said politely.

"And to you, Stephan. It's been a long time, Nathanos."

"Indeed. You've changed a great deal." Nathanos examined his attire. "You look rather holy. Different from your usual self."

"Stop making fun of me. Come on, let's rest at the inn first."

Larein seemed to have made arrangements in advance. When Nathanos and the others entered the inn, the proprietor welcomed them warmly. In addition to roasted meat, there was Southshore ale.

"Stephan, put down that cup. The juice will arrive in a moment." Nathanos glared at his cousin. While he had not been paying attention, Stephan had secretly poured himself some ale.

"Why can you drink but I can't?"

"Because if you drink, your father will beat you until you're crawling for your teeth. If I drink, your uncle Bred won't do anything to me."

Stephan had no rebuttal to that explanation. Larein snickered beside them, while also noticing that Stephan's money pouch was bulging.

"Stephan, it seems you've gone and done another profitable job." Larein teased him with an odd look.

The boy replied proudly, "Seven whole rounds. I wiped that man out seven times. And the process was..."

Stephan had intended to continue, but the moment he saw Nathanos's expression, he shut his mouth. He knew his behavior had been crude and ridiculous.

"Look at him, Larein," Nathanos said. "He still wants to become a knight someday. Gods, what a joke."

"Nonsense, Nathanos." Stephan retorted angrily. "I'm preparing precisely to become a knight."

"Then you should be learning how to ride a horse, rather than making eyes at people in taverns over a few copper coins."

"I'm saving up to buy armor and a sword."

Larein turned to him. "Shouldn't you buy a horse first?"

"Unfortunately, the price of horses in Lordaeron has risen again," Nathanos took over. "Even a pony costs five silver coins now. This brat has been saving for quite some time, and he hasn't even gathered half of it."

"That's because you refuse to lend me money." Stephan looked at Nathanos resentfully. His cousin rarely spent money, making everything himself, and had never asked Bred for money either. Yet Stephan knew Nathanos had saved a considerable sum, probably more than ten gold coins, all earned by brewing potions and selling them to wealthy families.

"If you want to learn how to forge a suit of armor or a weapon that fits your hand, I can introduce you to a mentor."

"Forget it. I prefer ready-made ones."

Nathanos shook his head helplessly. He and Larein stopped making Stephan the topic of conversation and began discussing other matters.

"Did you know? Kasha is a priest now as well. But she became one a year before I did, and she's already a High Priest."

"That's impressive." Nathanos's assessment was simple and direct. Priests were divided into five ranks: Initiate Priest, High Priest, monk, priest, and archbishop. Kasha was a year younger than Nathanos, but her faith in the Holy Light surpassed that of ordinary people.

"And that detestable Gray Maynes. Through his father's connections, he somehow became a Sergeant Major."

"A Sergeant Major? If I remember correctly, the minimum enlistment age in Lordaeron is twenty."

Larein nodded. "He has been training in the military camp for two years already. His father pulled strings everywhere and paid visits to every superior he needed to visit."

In recent years, the King had restructured Lordaeron's military and administrative ranks. Sergeant Major belonged to the fourth rank of office, with sergeants, corporals, and privates below it. Directly above them was Sergeant Major, also known as a garrison officer. Gray's rank was second only to his father's.

Nathanos drained the wine in his cup. "It seems Lordaeron's inspection authorities aren't very rigorous, letting a worm like that grow wings ahead of time."